Sagnac interferometer method for synthesis of fractional polarization vortices

Optically polarized selective transmission of a fractional vector vortex beam by the polarized atoms with external magnetic fields

We investigate the role of external magnetic fields and linearly polarized pump light, especially when their directions are parallel or vertical, on the propagation of the fractional vector vortex beams (FVVBs) through a polarized atomic system. Herein, the different configurations of external magnetic fields lead to various optically polarized selective transmissions of FVVBs with different fractional topological charge α caused by the polarized atoms, which is theoretically demonstrated by the atomic density matrix visualization analysis and experimentally explored by Cesium atom vapor. Meanwhile, we find that the FVVBs-atom interaction is a vectorial process due to the different optical vector polarized states. In this interaction process, the atomic optically polarized selection property provides potential for the realization of the magnetic compass based on warm atoms. For the FVVBs, due to the rotational asymmetry of the intensity distribution, we can observe some transmitted light spots with unequal energy. Compared with the integer vector vortex beam, it is possible to obtain a more precise magnetic field direction by fitting the different "petal" spots of the FVVBs.

Superposition of two fractional optical vortices and the orbital angular momentum measurement by a deep-learning method

We propose a single diffractive optical element called the composite fractional spiral zone plates to generate superimposed fractional optical vortices. Such an element is composed of two fractional spiral zone plates (FSZPs) through logical AND operation, and the produced beam carries superimposed fractional orbital angular momentum (OAM) states. By controlling the topological charge of the superimposed FSZPs, denoted by l₁ and l₂, one can flexibly obtain the desired superimposed fractional OAM modes of the generated beam. Especially, a deep-learning model with a densely connected convolutional neural network architecture is utilized to accurately predict the superimposed fractional OAM states of SFOVs. The average recovery rate of the superimposed fractional OAM states based on the training model is over 99%, and the average error is as small as 0.02. This work may pave the way for wide-ranging applications such as smart OAM communication, particle transmission, and even quantum entanglement.

Angular momentum separation in focused fractional vector beams for optical manipulation

The generation, propagation, and applications of different types of integer vector beams have been extensively investigated. However, little attention focuses on the photophysical and photomechanical properties of the fractional vector beam (FVB). Herein, we theoretically and experimentally investigate the spin angular momentum (SAM) separation and propagation characteristics of weakly focused FVBs. It is demonstrated that such a beam carrying no SAM leads to both the transverse separation of SAM and the special intensity patterns in the focal region. Furthermore, we study the intensity, SAM, and orbital angular momentum (OAM) distributions of the tightly focused FVBs. It is shown that both three-dimensional SAM and OAM are spatially separated in the focal region of tightly focused FVBs. We investigate the optical forces, spin torques, and orbital torques on a dielectric Rayleigh particle produced by the focused FVBs. The results reveal that asymmetrical spinning and orbiting motions of optically trapped particles can be realized by manipulating FVBs.

Generation of optical vortices using a uniaxially aligned azo-dye-doped liquid crystal cell and space-variant polarization projection system

A scheme is presented for an optical vortex (OV) generator comprising a uniaxially aligned azo-dye-doped liquid crystal (ADDLC) and a space-variant polarization projection (SVPP) system. The SVPP system consisting of an electro-optic modulator and a micro-electromechanical system projects a time-averaged SVP field equal to a vector beam onto the ADDLC and fabricates a three-dimensional twisted anisotropic structure, which has spatial phase modulation properties from plane to helical shape. The generation of OVs with odd- and even-numbered topological charge is experimentally demonstrated. As a flexible and broadband spatial light modulator, the proposed scheme should be applicable to the research and development of OV applications.

Sectoral multipole focused beams

We discuss the properties of pure multipole beams with well-defined handedness or helicity, with the beam field a simultaneous eigenvector of the squared total angular momentum and its projection along the propagation axis. Under the condition of hemispherical illumination, we show that the only possible propagating multipole beams are "sectoral" multipoles. The sectoral dipole beam is shown to be equivalent to the non-singular time-reversed field of an electric and a magnetic point dipole Huygens' source located at the beam focus. Higher order multipolar beams are vortex beams vanishing on the propagation axis. The simple analytical expressions of the electric field of sectoral multipole beams, exact solutions of Maxwell's equations, and the peculiar behaviour of the Poynting vector and spin and orbital angular momenta in the focal volume could help to understand and model light-matter interactions under strongly focused beams.

Single-path Sagnac interferometer with Dove prism for orbital-angular-momentum photon manipulation

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) is an important resource in high-dimensional quantum information processing, as its quantum number can be infinite. Dove prism (DP) is a most common tool to manipulate OAM light. However, the Dove prism changes the polarization of the photon states and decreases the sorting fidelity of the interferometer. In this work, we analyze the polarization-dependent effect of the DP on OAM light manipulation in the normal single-path Sagnac interferometers (SPSIs) with beam splitter (BS) and polarizing beam splitter (PBS). The results demonstrate that the BS SPSI is more sensitive to the input polarization and the specific parameters of the DP. We have also proposed and realized a modified BS SPSI, of which the sorting fidelity can be 100% in principle and is independent on the input polarization and the transmission matrix of the DP. The experiments demonstrate that the fidelity of the modified BS SPSI is about 5%~10% higher than that of the normal one. The modified BS SPSI is easy to implement (only two more half-wave plates are required) and is stable for free running at the scale of several hours. These merits make the structure suitable for applications in critical quantum information processing tasks, such as quantum cryptography.

Generation of perfect polarization vortices using combined gratings in a single spatial light modulator

Perfect polarization vortices (PPVs) are a type of vector beam with a diameter independent of the polarization order. In this paper, an experimental method is proposed to generate PPVs with an anisotropic polarization distribution. First, a specially designed hologram is generated on a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator (SLM) to obtain Bessel-Gaussian (BG) beams. Second, the BG beams are transformed into PPVs in the Bessel region by an interferometer, which includes a polarized beam splitter, two reflectors, and several lenses. In our experiment, PPVs with adjustable polarization orders and diameters are obtained by generating various combined holograms on the SLM.

Efficient generation of vector beams by calibrating the phase response of a spatial light modulator

The spatial light modulator (SLM) is considered as an effective device to create beams with inhomogeneous phases and polarizations, such as vortex beams and vector beams. However, the nonlinear responses of SLM severely reduce the generation efficiency of these beams. In this paper, by calibrating the SLM to present a linear phase response in the scope of 0-2π, we propose a convenient and efficient method of creating vector beams with arbitrary polarizations based on phase encoding. Compared with the common methods of generating vector beams, our approach can distinctly enhance the generation efficiency.

Rectilinear lattices of polarization vortices with various spatial polarization distributions

In this paper, we propose a type of rectilinear lattices of polarization vortices, each spot in which has mutually independent, and controllable spatial polarization distributions. The lattices are generated by two holograms under special design. In the experiment, the holograms are encoded on two spatial light modulators, and the results fit very well with theory. Our scheme makes it possible to generate multiple polarization vortices with various polarization distributions simultaneously, for instance, radially and azimuthally polarized beams, and can be used in the domains as polarization-based data transmission system, optical manufacture, polarization detection and so on.

Bessel beams with spatial oscillating polarization

Bessel beams are widely used in optical metrology mainly because of their large Rayleigh range (focal length). Radial/azimuthal polarization of such beams is of interest in the fields of material processing, plasma absorption or communication. In this paper an experimental set-up is presented, which generates a Bessel-type vector beam with a spatial polarization, oscillating along the optical axis, when propagating in free space. A first holographic axicon (HA) HA1 produces a normal, linearly polarized Bessel beam, which by a second HA2 is converted into the spatial oscillating polarized beam. The theory is briefly discussed, the set-up and the experimental results are presented in detail.

Measurement of orbital angular momentum spectra of multiplexing optical vortices

Optical vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) are widely investigated for their unique performance in recent years. They can be used to extend the capacity of optical communications system due to the orthogonality of different channels. In the receiver side of a multiplexing optical vortices system, verifying the OAM spectrum is of great importance. A new kind of diffraction element called Dammann vortex grating can distribute energies among different diffraction orders equally. Based on this unique characteristic, we reported a new algorithm to analyze the spot of each diffraction order. The OAM spectrum in the receiver side can then be obtained. In the experiment, the OAM spectrum measurement of at most six-channel multiplexing optical vortices is realized. The experimental results illustrate that the OAM spectrum gained by this approach is highly consistent with the theoretical value.

Integrating 5 × 5 Dammann gratings to detect orbital angular momentum states of beams with the range of -24 to +24

The 5×5 2D binary Dammann vortex grating can distribute energy among different diffraction orders equally and can realize measurement of orbital angular momentum (OAM) states from -12 to +12. Here we combine a 5×5 Dammann vortex grating and a spiral phase plate with the order +12 or -12, which makes the topological charge of beams in the array increase or decrease by 12; thus, the range of measuring OAM states can be extended to a range from -24 to +24. We upload the holograms of such gratings on a liquid crystal spatial light modulator to do the experiment. The experimental results fit well with the simulation results. This method is also effective for multiplexed OAM beams and can be used in optical communications in the future.

Generating polarization vortices by using helical beams and a Twyman Green interferometer

A stable interferometric arrangement consisting of a polarizing beam splitter, a reflector, and a right-angle prism is designed to transform helical beams into polarization vortices. The computer-generated holograms are loaded on the liquid crystal spatial light modulator (LC-SLM) in order to generate different helical beams. Then the helical beams are transformed into polarization vortices with different kinds of intensity distribution successfully.

Devil's lens optical tweezers

We demonstrate an optical tweezers using a laser beam on which is imprinted a focusing phase profile generated by a Devil's staircase fractal structure (Cantor set). We show that a beam shaped in this way is capable of stably trapping a variety of micron- and submicron-sized particles and calibrate the optical trap as a function of the control parameters of the fractal structure, and explain the observed variation as arising from radiation pressure exerted by unfocused parts of the beam in the region of the optical trap. Experimental results are complemented by calculation of the structure of the focus in the regime of high numerical aperture.

Trapping volume control in optical tweezers using cylindrical vector beams

We present the result of an investigation into the optical trapping of spherical microparticles using laser beams with a spatially inhomogeneous polarization direction [cylindrical vector beams (CVBs)]. We perform three-dimensional tracking of the Brownian fluctuations in the position of a trapped particle and extract the trap spring constants. We characterize the trap geometry by the aspect ratio of spring constants in the directions transverse and parallel to the beam propagation direction and evaluate this figure of merit as a function of polarization angle. We show that the additional degree of freedom present in CVBs allows us to control the optical trap strength and geometry by adjusting only the polarization of the trapping beam. Experimental results are compared with a theoretical model of optical trapping using CVBs derived from electromagnetic scattering theory in the T-matrix framework.

Study of the birth of a vortex at Fraunhofer zone

We analytically and experimentally study the Fraunhofer diffraction of an optical vortex beam possessing noninteger values of the azimuthal index. We show that the Fraunhofer diffraction of this beam presents the birth of a vortex at α=n+ε, where n is an integer number and ε is a small fraction. We discuss this behavior on the basis of the born vortex movement from a position of low intensity to high intensity when α is increased of an integer number in fractional steps of ε.

Generation of polarization vortices with a Wollaston prism and an interferometric arrangement

A stable and simple interferometric arrangement based on a Wollaston prism is designed to combine two helical beams into a polarization vortex (PV). Different modes of helical beams are generated by a spatial light modulator (SLM). Due to the flexibility of the SLM, PVs with different kinds of intensity distribution, such as Laguerre-Gaussian modes and Bessel modes, are generated.

Generation of arbitrary spatially variant polarization beams with a trapezoid Sagnac interferometer

We present a flexible approach to generate arbitrary vector beams with a trapezoid Sagnac interferometer. With the interferometer, the different orders of two orthogonally polarized beams from computer-generated holograms coincide with each other in Fourier spectrum domain, and coaxially combine into the vector beams. This approach provides convenient way to experimentally study the properties of vector beams with complex polarization.

Optical trapping of nanotubes with cylindrical vector beams

We use laser beams with radial and azimuthal polarization to optically trap carbon nanotubes. We measure force constants and trap parameters as a function of power showing improved axial trapping efficiency with respect to linearly polarized beams. The analysis of the thermal fluctuations highlights a significant change in the optical trapping potential when using cylindrical vector beams. This enables the use of polarization states to shape optical traps according to the particle geometry, as well as paving the way to nanoprobe-based photonic force microscopy with increased performance compared to a standard linearly polarized configuration.

Optical trapping of porous silicon nanoparticles

Silicon nanoparticles obtained by ball-milling of a 50% porosity silicon layer have been optically trapped when dispersed in a water-surfactant environment. We measured the optical force constants using linearly and radially polarized trapping beams finding a reshaping of the optical potential and an enhanced axial spring constant for the latter. These measurements open perspectives for the control and handling of silicon nanoparticles as labeling agents in biological analysis and fluorescence imaging techniques.